The LT3071’s output voltage is digitally programmable from 0.8V to 1.8V in 50mV increments. Accuracy is tightly specified at ±1% over line, load and temperature. An analog output margining feature can adjust system output voltage over a continuous ±10% range, advantageous during system development debug. A PowerGood flag indicates if output voltage is in regulation or if the device is in UVLO, and the flag also provides an early warning indication of a thermal fault. An output current monitor sources a scaled dynamic representation of output current (IOUT/2500) that can be measured directly or terminated with a resistor and converted to voltage, allowing load conditions or power to be calculated. The LT3071’s input supply voltage range is 0.95V to 3.0V and its bias supply voltage ranges from 2.2V to 3.6V. The bias supply provides gate drive to the internal NMOS pass device.
Multiple LT3071 devices can be easily paralleled for higher output current and to spread heat across a circuit board. A tracking feature can control a buck regulator powering the LT3071’s input. This tracking function drives the upstream buck regulator to maintain the LT3071’s input voltage at VOUT + 300mV, minimizing power dissipation. If output voltage is dynamically changed, the tracking function automatically adjusts the output voltage of the buck regulator to maintain efficiency. Internal protection circuitry includes UVLO, reverse-current protection, precision current limiting with power foldback and thermal shutdown with hysteresis.